YouTube instructional videos created by organizations like Crash Course and Khan Academy have become central tools in modern education, offering the potential to democratize learning for global audiences. Some of these platforms have amassed millions of subscribers and billions of views, while forming formal partnerships with prominent U.S. educational institutions such as the College Board and state boards of education. Despite their widespread use, however, there has been limited research on the quality and inclusivity of these educational resources. Cody Charles Pritchard, a PhD student in education, is working to fill this gap by analyzing the representation and sentiment of different demographic groups in these videos using Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques. His research examines the frequency and context of terms associated with minority groups to assess their visibility and emotional tone within the content. The study also includes surveys to explore how teachers integrate these resources into their classrooms. This approach combines data science with qualitative methods to provide valuable insights into the inclusivity and effectiveness of instructional videos in education.

Many Latino/a/x youth face discrimination, economic insecurity, and cultural challenges, which can increase their risk of substance misuse and other problem behaviors. Eliza Galvez, a PhD student in social work, is engaged in research focused on addressing the challenges faced by Latino/a/x youth, emphasizing the importance of strong family bonds and culturally relevant prevention programs to mitigate these risks. She collaborates with organizations in East Tennessee to implement and evaluate the Familias Fuertes (FF) program, a culturally adapted version of the Strengthening Families Program, aimed at improving family relationships as a means of preventing problem behaviors among youth. Despite existing programs, dissemination remains limited, especially in non-traditional Latino/a/x settlement areas, where barriers to accessing services are exacerbated by unwelcoming policies and sentiments. However, Galvez’ research intends to provide valuable data for assessment of the FF program and guidance for future implementations.

Although excessive alcohol use does not cause sexual assault, it does increase its risk, and nearly half of sexual assaults involve alcohol. Rosy Kamrunnaher, a PhD student in public health sciences, focuses her research on the prevention of sexual violence in alcohol-serving establishments, particularly bars. Bystander intervention is a strategy where individuals who witness a potentially harmful situation, such as sexual assault, take action to prevent it. Kamrunnaher’s research highlights that training bar staff to recognize and intervene in such situations can significantly reduce the likelihood of sexual assaults. Training, such as the Safe Bar program, educates staff on how to safely and effectively interrupt acts of violence, thereby fostering a culture of safety within bars. Her findings suggest that continuous implementation of safe bar strategies can encourage bystanders to intervene and potential victims to seek help, thus creating safer environments. 

The southeastern United States has seen one of the fastest-growing Latinx populations in the country. Southern states experienced a 33% increase in the Latinx population, leading to the emergence of the term “the Nuevo South”. However, as this population increasingly enters colleges and universities, educational retention rates remain lower than those of White, Black, and Asian populations. Maria Martinez Weiss, a PhD student in higher education administration, focuses on understanding the experiences of Latinx college students in this unique region. Using narrative inquiry and testimonies as methodologies, Martinez Weiss gathers personal stories from Latinx students to explore their identities, migration journeys, and academic experiences. The study involves interviews and group sessions where participants share their narratives and create visual representations of their experiences. This approach positions the students as co-creators of knowledge, highlighting the complexities of their lives and their sense of belonging at predominantly White institutions. The findings aim to provide insights and practical recommendations for higher education institutions to foster inclusive environments for Latinx students.

While the socioeconomic impacts from the closure of coal mines and coal-fired power plants in Central Appalachian communities has been widely studied, few scholars have examined the impact of transition on the environment and public infrastructure. By using geospatial data and statistical analysis, Xinming Zhang, a PhD student in geography, examines how the reduction in coal production affects both the environment and public infrastructure, particularly water quality and drinking water systems. This research aims to provide a comprehensive view of how transitioning away from fossil fuels impacts not just the economy and energy workers, but also the local environment and public resources. The findings are intended to inform policies that ensure a fair and sustainable transition for affected communities.

Sexual minority individuals, who experience a unique stigma associated with their sexual identities often manifesting in the form of microaggression, are at higher risk for experiencing several behavioral health issues, including a higher rate of drinking and negative alcohol-related consequences in comparison to heterosexual individuals. Stella Son, a PhD student in psychology, investigates the link between daily microaggression experiences and alcohol use among sexual minority college students, focusing on how different coping strategies can influence this relationship. Utilizing a 60-day daily diary method, her study aims to understand the immediate impact of microaggressions on drinking behaviors and identify specific coping mechanisms—such as avoidant, problem-focused, and emotion-focused strategies—that might increase or decrease alcohol consumption. This research is crucial for developing targeted interventions to reduce health disparities in sexual minority populations by promoting effective coping strategies to mitigate hazardous drinking behaviors.

Shreenandan Rajarathnam, a PhD student in communication and information, focuses on Usable Security, which seeks to balance strong cybersecurity measures with user experience and usability challenges. Shreenandan’s dissertation aims to develop a Community Profile based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) specifically for Usable Security. A systematic literature review on the convergence of cybersecurity and user experience identified the need for widely adopted standards in this field. This project addresses that gap by offering organizations a practical framework that incorporates user experience considerations into their cybersecurity practices. Additionally, his work will be among the first to utilize the latest version of the NIST CSF (version 2.0). The detailed documentation of data collection and analysis methodologies in his project will provide an essential resource for future researchers and practitioners.

Milinda Randeniya, a PhD student in physics, engages in research to advance the field of remote epitaxy, a cutting-edge technology in the semiconductor industry. This method involves growing high-quality semiconductor films on a substrate covered by an ultra-thin layer of graphene, which can be separated to create freestanding membranes used in advanced electronics. Despite significant global interest, the mechanisms behind remote epitaxy remain unclear due to experimental challenges. Randeniya’s team has developed a way to produce nearly defect-free graphene, enabling more precise studies of these mechanisms. Their work aims to enhance understanding and predictability of remote epitaxy processes, potentially revolutionizing semiconductor manufacturing and contributing to technological advancements backed by initiatives like the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022.